Western Bulldogs maintained third place on the ladder, while Essendon's roller-coaster 2009 season took another twist, after the Bulldogs defeated the Bombers by 33 points in front of a bumper crowd at Docklands on Friday night.The first quarter was an even fight, but the Bombers got on top in the second term, their runners dominating the midfield; but their chances were let down with some poor marking across the half forward line that saw the Bulldogs clear the ball out of trouble. At half time the Bombers led by 8 points, the lead should have been greater. And the Bulldogs made the Bombers pay in the third term, a 6 goals to 2 burst turning the deficit into a 19-point lead at the last change. And when the Bulldogs scored twice in the opening 5 minutes of the final term, Essendon's chance had gone. Mitchell Hahn was the destroyer up forward with 5 goals, while veteran Brad Johnson with 30 touches was the leading possession winner.Western Bulldogs 3.5 4.6 10.9 15.13 (103)Essendon 3.1 6.2 8.2 11.4 (70)Goals : Western Bulldogs - M Hahn 5, S Welsh 3, S Higgins 2, A Cooney, D Cross, J Hill, R Murphy, W Minson. Essendon - M Lloyd 2, A Davey, B Prismall, B Stanton, H Hocking, J Winderlich, K Reimers, M Hurley, P Ryder, S Lonergan.Best : Bulldogs - B Johnson, S Higgins, M Hahn, D Cross, R Griffen, M Boyd. Essendon - B Stanton, P Ryder, J Winderlich, A Lovett, A Welsh, B Prismall.Injuries : Bulldogs - Nil. Essendon - Nil.Reports - Nil. Umpires - S Jeffery, S McLaren, R Chamberlain.Crowd - 47,120 at Docklands.

A long run of outs for Carlton came to an end when the Blues defeated Sydney for the first time since 2000. But, despite the final margin being 61 points, the result was in the balance for much of the afternoon and hopes were high for three quarters among the Swans' contingent of their first away win.The second quarter saw the Swans in top form, denying the Blues access to scoring opportunities as they went to a shock 9-point lead at the long break. The Blues lifted after half time, a 6 goals to 3 third term seeing Carlton hit the front late in the quarter.But, although the game was in the balance at the last change, that was as close as the Swans would get. In contrast to the tough and even contest of the first three quarters, the final term was one-way traffic, as the Blues controlled possession and scored at will. 9 unanswered games turned what would have been a close contest into a blowout.Carlton 3.4 4.6 10.8 19.10 (124)Sydney 3.1 6.3 9.5 9.9 (63)Goals : Carlton - B Fevola 5, B Fisher 3, B Gibbs 2, M Kreuzer 2, M Murphy 2, A Carrazzo, C Judd, C Yarran, E Betts, K Simpson. Sydney - J White 4, R O'Keefe 2, D Jolly, L Ablett, M O'Loughlin.Best : Carlton - K Simpson, B Fevola, M Murphy, C Judd, B Gibbs, B Fisher. Sydney - R O'Keefe, A Goodes, J McVeigh, D Jolly, J White, R Shaw.Injuries : Carlton - M Jamison (groin) replaced in selected side by A Hartlett. Sydney - T Richards (rib/lung), N Malceski replaced in selected side by P Bevan, M Pyke replaced in selected side by L Ablett.Reports - Nil. Umpires - J Schmitt, M Avon, B Rosebury.Crowd - 42,018 at Docklands.

HARBOURSPORT

AFL

An explosive first quarter by Geelong was enough for the Cats to snap their 2-match winning streak, although the remaining three quarters were far from impressive for the Cats.Geelong raced out of the blocks, 5 goals coming on the board within the first 10 minutes, the start of a run of 7 unanswered goals in the opening term. At quarter time, the Cats' lead was 44 points and already the game was safe.But the Cats' hopes of a percentage booster were to be dashed. Playing some lazy football and not maintaining the same pace and intensity that the first quarter had, the Cats didn't pull away. Instead, the under-manned Demons lifted, tackled harder and kept the Cats under pressure over the course of the remainder of the game. Melbourne never looked a chance to come back, but at least they prevented a blowout in a match that so easily coulf have become one after such an uneven first quarter.Geelong 7.4 9.9 14.13 17.15 (117)Melbourne 0.2 3.2 7.3 11.5 (71)Goals : Geelong - M Stokes 3, A Mackie 2, G Ablett 2, S Hogan 2, T Varcoe 2, H Taylor, J Selwood, K Tenace, P Chapman, S Byrnes, T Hawkins. Melbourne - C Morton 3, M Bate 3, L Jurrah 2, B Moloney, L Dunn, R Petterd.Best : Geelong - J Selwood, P Chapman, G Ablett, A Mackie, S Hogan, T Hawkins.Melbourne - B Green, B Moloney, C Morton, J Grimes, M Bate, L Dunn.Injuries : Geelong - T Harley (knee) replaced in selected side by T Gillies. Melbourne - P Wheatley (thigh) replaced in selected side by J Bennell.Reports - Nil. Umpires - H Kennedy, S Stewart, C Kamolins.Crowd - 21,160 at Skilled Stadium.

Fremantle were only able to manage a single goal last week, but the Dockers surpassed that tally within the opening 10 minutes of their clash against Brisbane at Subiaco Oval. It was a low-scoring slog in wet conditiions, but the Dockers held the lead through the first half and had a 7-point advantage at the long break.The second half saw the Lions lift, a 4 goals to 2 third quarter handing Brisbane an 8-point lead at the final change, and going on with the job in the last quarter the final margin was 15 points. It was far from convincing, the wet conditions and an injury to Daniel Bradshaw leaving Brisbane well below their best; while the Dockers battled hard and showed a determination that was sadly missing last week; but didn't have the firepower to match it with the Lions.Brisbane's win sees them draw level with Collingwood on points, only percentage keeping them away from a top-4 berth. On a night when goals were hard to come by, Jonathan Brown's bag of 4 was worth its weight in gold. Rising Star nominee Daniel Rich continued his development with 31 touches, For the Dockers, although defeated, it was a far cry from their capitulation against Adelaide, with Paul Duffield a prominent ball-winner.Brisbane 1.1 3.3 7.7 9.8 (62)Fremantle 2.3 4.4 6.5 7.5 (47)Goals : Brisbane - J Brown 4, B Dalziell, D Bradshaw, D Rich, J Sherman, M Clark. Fremantle - K Bradley 2, A Campbell, A Grover, D Mundy, N Suban, S Thornton.Best : Brisbane - M Clark, B Dalziell, S Black, D Rich, J Brown, J Redden. Fremantle - P Duffield, G Ibbotson, K Bradley, D Solomon, D Pearce, D Mundy.Injuries : Brisbane - D Bradshaw (hamstring), J Brennan (ankle). Fremantle - A Foster (ankle), C Tarrant (knee).Reports - Nil. Umpires - C Donlon, S Wenn, J Dalgleish.Crowd - 22,595 at Subiaco.

A topsy-turvey season for Port Adelaide took a turn for the better when the Power had an easy 36-point win over West Coast at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon.The Eagles kicked the opening goal of the match, but would not score another until late in the second. By then the Power had hit their straps and run out to an imposing lead - 34 points at quarter time and into the high 40s during the second term before a late Eagle goal pulled the margin back shortly before half-time.The premiership quarter again saw the Power on top, before the Eagles salvaged some pride in the last quarter. But the result of the game was never in doubt, as the Power now find themselves only outside the top 8 on percentage. Their season started well, had threatened to unravel but now looks to be getting back on track. If was a disappointing performance for the Eagles, who were never in the contest, and who continue to find themselves languishing in the lower reaches of the competition ladder.Port Adelaide 6.5 10.8 15.9 17.10 (112)West Coast 1.1 3.3 6.5 11.10 (76)Goals : Port Adelaide - B Ebert 3, D Rodan 2, J Davenport 2, M Broadbent 2, N Salter 2, R Gray 2, W Tredrea 2, J Westhoff, K Cornes. West Coast - A Hansen 3, M LeCras 2, Q Lynch 2, C Masten, J Kennedy, M Rosa, P McGinnity.Best : Port Adelaide - J Davenport, D Cassisi, K Cornes, S Salopek, C Cornes, D Rodan. West Coast - C Masten, M Rosa, A Embley, Q Lynch, D Wirrpanda, B Ebert.Injuries : Port Adelaide - D Brogan (corked thigh), J Westhoff (concussion), R Gray (corked knee). West Coast - T Stenglein (back) replaced in selected side by N Naitanui.Reports - Nil. Umpires - M Vozzo, T Pannell, S Hay.Crowd - 21,106 at AAMI Stadium.

Richmond and North Melbourne played the first draw of 2009, the sides being locked together when the final siren sounded at the MCG on Sunday afternoon.For Richmond, the result was a win that got away, while the Kangaroos will be pleased to have salvaged 2 points from a game where, for much of the day, they looked set to be badly beaten. Early in the third term, the Tigers led by 44 points, but the Kangaroos slowly worked their way back into the contest; and a goal to David Hale at the 22 minute mark of the last quarter put them a point in front. A Richmond behind levelled scores, before the sides traded goals to Leigh Harding and Mitch Morton. But by then the clock had run out, and the teams would end up sharing the points.Richmond 4.5 10.6 11.9 12.13 (85)North Melbourne 1.3 3.6 8.11 12.13 (85)Goals : Richmond - J Riewoldt 3, M Morton 2, R Nahas 2, D Polo, M Coughlan, M White, S Edwards, T Hislop. North Melbourne - L Harding 3, B Harvey 2, D Hale 2, A Swallow, C Jones, H McIntosh, L Greenwood, L Hansen.Best : Richmond - C Newman, M Morton, R Tambling, J Riewoldt, D Jackson, R Nahas. North Melbourne - B Harvey, H McIntosh, L Harding, S Power, S Thompson, A Swallow.Injuries : Richmond - B Cousins (illness) replaced in selected side by J McMahon, T Cotchins (illness) replaced in selected side by M Coughlan. North Melbourne - A Swallow (corked knee), D Hale (leg), M Firrito (corked buttock).Reports - Nil. Umpires - D Margetts, M James, D Sully.Crowd - 30,604 at MCG.

A devastating 9 goals to 1 return for the middle 2 quarters was enough for St Kilda to remain undefeated with a 57-point win over Adelaide at Docklands in the Sunday twilight match.The Crows came into the match on a 7-game winning streak, but found themselves outclassed by the relentless drive and pressure of the undefeated Saints. This time it was Farren Ray's turn to shine, with a haul of 39 possessions; but Jason Gram, Lenny Hayes and Brendon Goddard all accumulated more than 30 touches for the day.After Collingwood's loss on Saturday night, the Crows could have moved into the top 4 had they taken out this match. But they never looked like overcoming the red-hot Saints, who have put on the biggest winning streak to open the season since Essendon's all-conquering run of 2000. The Bombers that season were just one game short of going through the season undefeated - will the Saints go one better and achieve a historic first?St Kilda 4.4 10.6 13.13 15.15 (105)Adelaide 4.2 5.2 5.4 7.6 (48)Goals : St Kilda - S Milne 4, N Riewoldt 4, A Schneider 2, J Gram, J Koschitzke, B McEvoy, A McQualter, F Ray. Adelaide - S Stevens 2, K Tippett 2, P Dangerfield, C Knights, B MartinBest : St Kilda - F Ray, S Baker, J Gram, L Hayes, N Riewoldt, S Fisher. Adelaide - N Bock, S Goodwin, S Stevens, M Doughty, B Reilly, A Otten.Injuries : St Kilda - M Gardiner (corked calf) replaced in selected side by B McEvoy, J Koschitzke (split webbing). Adelaide - R Shirley (flu) replaced in selected side by B Martin. D Mackay (hamstring), J Porplyzia (corked knee), P Dangerfield (head)Reports - Nil. Umpires - S Grun, S Meredith, S Ryan.Crowd - 31,940 at Docklands